Families In Need Can Sign Up Soon For Spirit Of Giving Distribution

With the Halloween holiday in the rear-view mirror, area agencies have turned their focus to the Christmas season.

In a few days, residents in need will be able to sign-up for the annual Spirit of Christmas distribution at the Salvation Army of Monroe County.

From Nov. 11 through Nov. 22, residents seeking holiday assistance will be able to register.

“The need is out there,” said Capt. Tammy Whitney of the Salvation Army of Monroe County.

Sign-ups for Spirit of Christmas will take place from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 1 to 4 p.m. those days and 3 to 7:30 p.m. Nov. 25-27 at the Salvation Army, 815 E. First St.

Residents also can sign up from 1 to 4 p.m. Nov. 11 to Nov. 27 at the south location, 7200 Lewis Ave., Suite C-1, Temperance.

To sign up, identification is needed for all adults in the home, along with proof of Michigan residency, medical cards or birth certificates for all children in the home; combined household income or Bridge Cards, and original Social Security cards of all members of the household, adults and children.

Capt. Whitney said the organization anticipates helping more than 1,000 families this year and need for services in the area remains great.

“With the federal government shutdown and the decrease in SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits ..., we are expecting to see people in need of food this holiday season,” Capt. Whitney said. “It’s scary. A family of four is expected to be cut by $35 a month.”

The need remains high in Monroe County, Capt. Whitney said, for donors to come forward as well.

organizers are concerned of “donor fatigue,” but hopes residents will continue to be generous in the Spirit of Christmas efforts.

“We are in need of monetary donations,” she said. “We are going to be seeking donations of hams and turkeys to give away as well.”

Food donations will be accepted at the Salvation Army building in Monroe as well.

On Friday, the Salvation Army will kick off its annual Red Kettle Campaign and bell ringers will be seen at dozens of locations around the community.

This year, the charity is hoping to raise $400,000.

“Every penny counts,” Capt. Whitney said of the organization’s largest annual fundraiser.

Last year, the campaign goal was $377,500.

The 2011 holiday season was one of the largest in terms of support as the organization helped more than 1,500 families during the Spirit of Christmas.

Toys can be dropped off in Toys for Tots boxes, which will also be scattered throughout the community. The Salvation Army partners with Toys for Tots to provide the toys for the Spirit of Christmas distributions.

Distribution for the Spirit of Christmas will start Dec. 17.

For more information, to donate, or to volunteer to ring the bells during the Red Kettle Campaign, call the Salvation Army at 241-0440.